Some call it \u201climinal space,\u201d the time or space between what has been and what lies ahead. It might be a time of waiting or even transformation. In these uncertain places, how can we learn to be content?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s likely that Paul wrote his famous declaration of contentment from inside the walls of a Roman prison, and yet his words brim with gratitude. His friends in Philippi were concerned, doing what they could to help him, and he acknowledged that just knowing they care is enough. He told them, \u201cI have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. I know both how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot\u201d (Philippians 4:11\u201312). In other words, \u201cThanks for your concern, but don\u2019t worry! Because of Jesus, I\u2019m going to be okay.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this letter, Paul was warm and optimistic, shifting the focus off of himself to encourage a church. His words radiated joy and humility bound up in a deep truth. Contentment doesn\u2019t lie in comfort, and it doesn\u2019t even lie in freedom. In this liminal space between living free or dying a brutal death, Paul shared this truth from behind bars: \u201cI am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me\u201d (Philippians 4:13).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In our own liminal spaces, maybe we can find a little bit of that strength too. Not in a naively optimistic way that ignores or denies reality, but in a solid confidence that someday this too\u2014everything, really\u2014will be made right. And in this contentment, we can take the steps we need toward the changes we desire, from making friends in a new city, to scheduling a doctor appointment, to leaning on Him to get up and take each day one step at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider the journey of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. This old metaphor of free-flying beauty springing forth from a squirmy, leaf-munching creature can sound a little clich\u00e9. But there\u2019s a reason this image resonates and endures. The caterpillar doesn\u2019t just spin a little capsule and pop out fully formed. It liquifies to a death-like state. It waits. It struggles to tear out of its chrysalis, strengthening its wings so it can fly. Stop the process too soon or attempt to help a butterfly escape, and it\u2019s over. Every step of the process is vital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Perhaps our own waiting spaces are like that. Changing, struggling, and finding contentment in the shelter of God\u2014over and over again, until we are made completely new. But regardless of the space we currently inhabit, whether moving forward in a joyful burst of enthusiasm or in a seemingly endless season of waiting\u2014we are not alone. In any and all circumstances, we already know the secret of being content: Jesus Christ is our peace. And by His Spirit we are strengthened and equipped, enabling us to do all things.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Some call it \u201climinal space,\u201d the time or space between what has been and what lies ahead. It might be a time of waiting or even transformation. In these uncertain places, how can we learn to be content? It\u2019s likely that Paul wrote his famous declaration of contentment from inside the walls of a Roman […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":71280,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[289],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-71613","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-philippiansandcolossians"],"acf":{"hero_background_image":false,"author_name":"","author_bio":"","guest_social_media":false,"related_plans":[71272],"weekly_truth":false,"grace_day":false,"share_text":"#SheReadsTruth","devotional_text":"ENCOURGEMENT AND PRAYER<\/b>
\r\nby Jen Yokel<\/i>
\r\n
Some call it \u201climinal space,\u201d the time or space between what has been and what lies ahead. It might be a time of waiting or even transformation. In these uncertain places, how can we learn to be content?<\/p>
\r\n
It\u2019s likely that Paul wrote his famous declaration of contentment from inside the walls of a Roman prison, and yet his words brim with gratitude. His friends in Philippi were concerned, doing what they could to help him, and he acknowledged that just knowing they care is enough. He told them, \u201cI have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. I know both how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot\u201d (Philippians 4:11\u201312). In other words, \u201cThanks for your concern, but don\u2019t worry! Because of Jesus, I\u2019m going to be okay.\u201d<\/p>
\r\n
In this letter, Paul was warm and optimistic, shifting the focus off of himself to encourage a church. His words radiated joy and humility bound up in a deep truth. Contentment doesn\u2019t lie in comfort, and it doesn\u2019t even lie in freedom. In this liminal space between living free or dying a brutal death, Paul shared this truth from behind bars: \u201cI am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me\u201d (Philippians 4:13).<\/p>
\r\n
In our own liminal spaces, maybe we can find a little bit of that strength too. Not in a naively optimistic way that ignores or denies reality, but in a solid confidence that someday this too\u2014everything, really\u2014will be made right. And in this contentment, we can take the steps we need toward the changes we desire, from making friends in a new city, to scheduling a doctor appointment, to leaning on Him to get up and take each day one step at a time.<\/p>
\r\n
Consider the journey of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. This old metaphor of free-flying beauty springing forth from a squirmy, leaf-munching creature can sound a little clich\u00e9. But there\u2019s a reason this image resonates and endures. The caterpillar doesn\u2019t just spin a little capsule and pop out fully formed. It liquifies to a death-like state. It waits. It struggles to tear out of its chrysalis, strengthening its wings so it can fly. Stop the process too soon or attempt to help a butterfly escape, and it\u2019s over. Every step of the process is vital.<\/p>
\r\n
Perhaps our own waiting spaces are like that. Changing, struggling, and finding contentment in the shelter of God\u2014over and over again, until we are made completely new. But regardless of the space we currently inhabit, whether moving forward in a joyful burst of enthusiasm or in a seemingly endless season of waiting\u2014we are not alone. In any and all circumstances, we already know the secret of being content: Jesus Christ is our peace. And by His Spirit we are strengthened and equipped, enabling us to do all things.<\/p>","share_image_height":"640","day_number":"12","scripture":"Philippians 4:10-23, Proverbs 11:24-25, Acts 20:32-35, 2 Corinthians 9:6-9","available":true,"ad_banner_name":"","ad_banner_image":false,"ad_banner_url":"","songs":"","key_verse":"","key_verse_reference":"","background_image":false,"background_color":"#FBF7F3","scripture_references":false,"share_image":false,"show_ad":true,"ad_override":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71613","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/70"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71613"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71613\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/71280"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71613"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71613"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71613"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}